Modern Warfare 4: Critical Acclaim Meets Commercial Struggles

Key points

• Modern Warfare 4 is down 32% in player counts on Xbox compared to Black Ops 7.
• The game peaked at 215,000 concurrent players on Steam, a 30% drop from Black Ops 6.
• Modern Warfare 4 is not available on Xbox Game Pass at launch, unlike previous Call of Duty titles.
• The game has received critical praise for its campaign, multiplayer, and DMZ modes.
• The Call of Duty franchise has passed $40 billion in revenue since 2022.

Background

Modern Warfare 4 was released on October 23, 2026, following a strong campaign early access period. The game has achieved a 90% positive Steam rating, the highest for the franchise since 2015. However, the series has faced declining critical reception and player engagement in recent years, with Activision's chief marketing officer, Tyler Bahl, labeling the franchise's struggles as the 'Call of Duty tax.'

How outlets are covering it

Windows Central reports that Modern Warfare 4 is down 32% in player counts on Xbox compared to Black Ops 7, and has also fallen short in player counts when compared to titles like Halo: Campaign Evolved, Gears of War: E-Day, and Forza Horizon 6. The outlet suggests that the game's absence from Xbox Game Pass at launch may be contributing to its commercial struggles. Game Informer, on the other hand, praises the game's campaign, multiplayer, and DMZ modes, calling it a 'strong return to form' for the series. Japan Today highlights the game's controversial setting, which features a full-scale North Korean invasion of South Korea, and notes that the title has topped sales charts in South Korea despite real-life border tensions.

Why it matters

Modern Warfare 4's commercial struggles highlight the challenges facing the Call of Duty franchise in a competitive gaming market. The game's absence from Xbox Game Pass at launch may be a significant factor in its lower player counts, as many players rely on the service for access to new titles. However, the game's critical acclaim suggests that it has the potential to recover in the long term, especially if it is added to Game Pass in the future. The franchise's overall revenue of $40 billion since 2022 indicates that it remains a major player in the gaming industry, despite its recent struggles.

What to watch

Activision is expected to release a Game Pass version of Modern Warfare 4 in the future, which could help to boost player counts and sales. The company is also likely to release additional updates and patches to address any technical issues and improve the game's performance. The long-term success of Modern Warfare 4 will depend on its ability to maintain player engagement and attract new players in a competitive market.